Interrupter mounting



. July 1936. M.- E. NULSEN ET AL 2,049,310

INTERRUPTER MOUNTI NG Filed June 14, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY July28, 1936. M. E, NULSEN ET AL INTERRUPTER MOUNTING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledJune 14, 1955 ATTORNEY Patented July 2c, 1936 PATENT OFFICE aINTERRUPTEB, MOUNTING Marvin E.Nuiaen and In M. Slater, Indianapolis,Ind., aacignora toP. R. Mallory & Co., Inc., Indianapolis, 11111., acorporation of Delaware Application June 14, 1935, Serial No. 26,553

16 Claims.

This invention relates to interrupters and more particularly to meansfor determining the polarity oi the current supplied to or by them.

The invention is applicable, for example, to magnetic interrupters oithe type comprising a vibratory member having contacts rapidly openedand closed to interrupt the current in the power supply circuit forradio receivers and the like, the vibratory member being enclosed in acontainer provided with among base. These magnetic interrupter units forelectrical circuits are adapted rapidly to make and break electricalcircuits of potential changers such as the socalled B eliminators forautomobile radio receivers.

An object of the invention is to improve the circuit connections forcurrent interrupters.

Another object is to improve the means for determining the polarity ofthe current supplied to ther brought out and exemplified in thedisciosure hereinafter set forth, including the illustrations in thedrawings, the scope of theinvention being indicated in the appendedclaims.

For a. fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the inventionas well as for specific Inilllment thereoi, reference should be had tothe following detailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which;

Figure 1 shows the case of a magnetic interrupter device with connectingprongs thereon arranged according to the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a socket arrangement for receiving the end of saidinterrupter case and said Figure 3 shows interrupter circuits arrangedaccording to one form of the invention;

Figure 4 shows parts of said circuits arranged according to a modifiedform of the invention;

Figure 5 illustrates a further modified form of the invention; V I

Figure 6 shows the invention applied to a modifled interrupterstructure; and

Figure 7 shows a further modification of the form shown in Figure 6.

Like rei'erence characters indicate like parts in the several figures ofthe drawings.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention is described herein, it iscontemplated that considerable variation may be made in the method orprocedure and the construction of parts without departing from thespirit of the invention.

In the use of magnetic interrupters of. the above typeit is customarytoconnect them into a circuit having a potential source, such as a batteryfor supplying the interrupter with current and transformerconnections'for stepping up the voltage in the output circuit. In onekind of interrupter, known as the self-rectifying type, the interrupteris connected to the battery and to both the primary and secondary of thetransformer, so that the low-potential, direct current supplied by thebattery is supplied to an output circuit as high-potential directcurrent.

An important use for such devices and circuits is in automobile radioreceiving sets. In

thiscase the low-potential current is drawn from the regular automobilebattery-generator circuit and the high-potential current is supplied tothe B supply circuit of the radio set.

Difiiculty and inconvenience has been experienced in practice, however,in obtaining the correct polarity of output at ail times. if the interruptcr has been improperly connected it has been necessary to go to suchexpedientsas reversing the connections oi the fred and green leads fromthe transformer or unsoldering and resoldering the socket connections.Furthermore, it has been necessary to provide separate connectingschemes for automobiles having the positive side of the battery groundedto the automobile frame and those having the negative side so grounded.Even with such careful attention as the radio mechanic is able to giveto circuit polarities, mistakes resulting in vexatious delay andexcessive labor have been frequent in the past. The present inventioneliminates these difiiculties.

Figure 1 shows a magnetic interrupter unit en closed in a metal case tohaving a. metal cover I I through which projects a central terminalprong I! which may be electrically grounded to the case l0 and cover ll.Likewise rojecting through cover I i are three pairs of terminal prongsl3 and it, Hi and i6, l'l and I8. These are insulated from the case andcover but are connected to certain of the interrupter contacts as willbe described. A suitable support for the prongs may be provided byriveting or pressing them into an insulating disc l9 inside the cover,holes being provided in the cover for each prong.

The lower end of the interrupter unit, including the prongs, is adaptedto fit into the base or socket member 20 shown in Figure 2. Socket 211is comprised of resilient flange or clip members 2! for holding theinterrupter unit in place and individual terminal connectors or Jacks22, 23 and 24,

' 25 and I8, 21 and 28 adapted to receive and form electricalconnections for prongs l2, l3 and l4, l5 and i6, I7 and i8 respectively.

Prong i2 is preferably made longer than the rest of the prongs in theunit to aid in inserting the device into socket 20. Thus it is possibleto insert prong i2 part way into receptive jack 22 and turn the unitabout this as an axis until the proper prongs and jacks are brought intoengagement after which the prongs may all be inserted completely intothe jacks. According to a modification the prongs are all of the samelength but a small table member is provided over jack 22 on the socket,this table member having a central hole leading to the jack. The samepurpose is accomplished by this structure since prong l2 will be engagedbefore the rest of the prongs.

With the circuit connections completed to the prongs and jack membersthe circuits may appear as shown in Figure 3 in which is shown a topview of socket and a bottom view of cover H of the case it] with theirconnecting circuits shown diagrammatically.

The central prong i2 of the unit is connected not only to the case andcover but likewise to the vibrating reed member 32 in the unit and oneend of electromagnet winding adapted to cause vibration of said reed 32.Prongs i3 and H are connected to contacts 33 and 34, respectively, whichcontacts co-operate with a double-faced contact on reed 32. Prongs l5and i6 are connected to contacts and 36, respectively, which co-operatewith another double-faced contact on reed 32. Prong i6 is also connectedto the other end of electromagnet winding 30. Prongs l1 and i8 are notconnected to any other members.

In the socket, jack 22 is connected to the ground side of battery 3| andof the high-potential output circuit 39. Jack 23 is connected to one endof secondary winding 38 of a step-up transformer and jack 24 isconnected to the other end of said secondary winding 38. The center tapof winding 38 is connected to the nonground'ed side of high-potentialoutput circuit 39. Jacks 25 and 28 are both connected to one end ofprimary winding 31 of the transformer and jacks 26 and 21 are bothconnected to the other end of said primary winding. Battery 3| isconnected to the center tap of the primary.

With the circuit connections as shown in Figure 3 electromagnet 30 isenergized frombattery 3| over the following circuit: Battery 3|,lefthand half of primary winding 31, jack 26, prong i6, winding ofmagnet 30, prong |2, jack 22 to battery 3i. The magnet attracts reed 32thereby closing the reed contacts with contacts 34 and 36. The circuitclosed through contact 36 short-circuits the winding 30. The circuitclosed through contact 34 connects the right-hand half of the secondarywind'ng 38 in series with the output circuit 39 whereby the high voltageinduced in this winding by the currents in primary 31 will be applied tothe output circuit.

Upon short-circuiting of the magnet 30 the reed 32 springs back closingthe reed contacts with contacts 33 and 35. Contact 35 connects theright-hand half of primary 31 in series with bat tery 3|, the circuitpassing through prong l5 and jack 25. Contact 33 connects the left-handhalf of the secondary in series with the output circuit 39 whereby thehigh voltage induced in said secondary is applied to the output circuitwith the same polarity as before. As the vibration of the reed 32continues the cycle is repeated. Thus it will be seen that a directcurrent of a has 6 jacks.

:grtain polarity is supplied to the output circuit Should it be foundthat these circuit connections supply the wrong polarity to outputcircuit 39, or should it be desired to use the unit in a circuit inwhich the opposite side of the battery is grounded, it is onlynecessary, with the present invention, to remove the unit from thesocket 23 and rotate it 180 degrees after which it can be reinsertedwith prong l2 in jack 22, prong |3 in lo jack 24, prong H in jack 23,prong IS in Jack 23, prong i6in jack 21, prong H in jack 26, and prongl8 in jack 25. Since Jacks 25 and 23 are connected together as well asjacks 26 and 21 it will be observed that the circuit connections are thesame except for the connections to the ends of secondary winding 33which connections are reversed with respect to contacts 33 and 34. Thusit will be seen that the polarity of output will be reversed.

In Figures 4 to 7, inclusive, the circuit arrange ments shown above lineA and below line B of Figure 3 are understood to be included.

In Figure 4 a modification is shown in which the connections of theprimary winding are reversed upon removal and rotation of the unitinstead of the secondary connections. This is made possible byconnecting prongs i3 and H to contacts 35 and 36, respectively, andcontacts l5 and I6 to contacts and 34, respectively. In addition, ifdesired, the prongs I5 and i3 may be connected together and similarlywith the prongs i6 and ll instead of connecting the Jacks (as was shownin Figure 3).

In the modification shown in Figure 5 the center prong i2 has beenomitted as have prongs l1 and I8 resulting in a 4-prong unit. The base23 In this case the reed connections are made only to the case l0 andcover H which are connected to the ground side of the battery throughmetal socket 20. Otherwise the circuits may be the same as shown inFigure 3.

Figure 6 shows a modified form of unit 33 and base or socket structure69, with parts broken away, and the circuits diagrammaticall illustated. It will be seen that ii the unit prongs are inserted into theirassociated jacks as indi cated in this figure that the ends of theprimary 31 of the transformer will be connected through prongs 65 and 66to contacts 35 and 36 and the ends of secondary 33 will be connectedthrough prongs 63 and 64 to contacts 33 and 34. The reed 32 is connectedthrough the case and base 53 to battery ground. If the polarity shouldbe desired tobe reversed it is only necessary to remove unit 66 frombase 69, rotate it 180 degrees and re-insert it. The circuit connectionsbetween secondary 36 and contacts 33 and 34 will remain the same due tothe cross-over connection oi the sockets tor prongs 63, 64 and 61, IIthe last mentioned pair of prongs being not connected. However, theconnections of primary 3'! to contacts 35 and 36 will be reversed due tothe reversal of prongs and 66 with respect to their jacks resulting in areversal of the output polarity. 1

Figure '7, is similar in general, to Figure 6, the primary 3! beingconnected, in the position shown, through prongs l5 and 16 to contacts35 and 33, and the secondary 38 being connected through prongs l3 and 14to contacts 33 and 34. The reed is connected'to battery ground throughprong 8D. Prongs H, 18 and 8| are not connected. Upon reversal of theposition of unit I0 in base I3 the polarity will be reversed, as inFigure 6.

The ground connection for prong Cl is provided in both positions by thecooperating Jack.

The present invention may be utilized with other or modified types ofinterrupter circuits than those illustrated in Figure 3. For example,the interrupter may be provided with a pair of reeds or armaturesinstead of the single one shown as 32 in Figure 3. With two reedscontacts 33 and 34 may cooperate with a double-laced contact on one reedand contacts 35 and 36 with a double-faced contact on the other reed.with this arrangement the reed in the secondary circuit may be connectedto the center prong I! but isolated from ground. The center receptivejack 22 may, in this case, be connected only to the output circuit. Theoutput circuit will thus be entirely isolated from the primary circuitand from ground whereby both sides oi the output may be at potentialssubstantially different from ground potential, if desired. This may betaken advantage of to provide for vacuum tube grid biasing from the samecircuit.

Thus it will be seen that applicant has provided a novel andadvantageous polarity reversal means whereby a considerable amount oflabor, inconvenience and danger to equipment can be eliminated.

While the present invention, as to its objects and advantages, has beendescribed herein as carried out in specific embodiments thereof, it isnot desired to be limited thereby but it is intended to cover theinvention broadly within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, an interrupter unit, a plurality oi connecting prongsmounted thereon, a base member, a plurality oi jacks mounted thereon forreceiving said connecting prongs, a current source and a load connectedto respective jacks, said plurality of prongs connecting to said lacksin a first relative position to obtain one type oi. circuit connectionbetween said source, interrupter and load and connecting to said Jacksin a second relative position to obtain another type 0! connectiontherebetween, at least two of said prongs exchanging jacks in thetransfer from said first to said second position.

2. In combination, a magnetic interrupter unit. a plurality oiconnecting prongs mounted thereon, a base member, a plurality of jacksmounted thereon for receiving said connecting prongs, a current sourceand a load connected to respective jacks, said plurality of prongsconnecting to said Jacks in a first relative position to obtain one typeoi circuit connection between said source, interrupwr and load andconnecting to said jacks in a second relative position to obtain anothertype of connection therebetween, at least two of ,said prongs exchanginglacks in the transfer from said first to said secondposition.

3. In combination, a self-rectliying magnetic interrupter unit, aplurality of connecting prongs mounted thereon, a base member. aplurality of jacks mounted thereon for receiving said connecting prongs,a current source and a load connected to respective jacks, saidplurality of prongs connecting to said Jacks in a first relativeposition to obtain one type of circuit connection between said source,interrupter and load and connecting to said Jacks in a second relativeposition to obtain another type of connection therebetwron. at least twoof said prongs exchanging lacks in the tranz'er from said first to saidsecond position.

' 4. In a device for converting direct current at a first potential intodirect current at a second. potential, a self-rectifying magneticinterrupter unit, a first circuit for supplying currents at said firstpotential to said unit, a second circuit for conducting currents at saidsecond potential to J said unit. a ,plurality of terminals held in fixedspatial relation on said unit, a base. a plurality of terminalconnectors mounted in fixed spatial relation on said base and connectedto said first V and second circuits, said terminals and terminal 10connectors being spaced in cooperative relation to connect said unit tosaid circuits in two different manners with two difierent positions ofsaid unit on said base, said terminals connecting said circuits to saidunit in a first manner in the first position of said unit and reversingthe connection of one of said circuits without reversing the connectionof the other in the second position of said unit.

5. In combination, a selt-rectiiying magnetic 20 interrupter unit, afirst and a second pair of prongs mounted thereon, a co-operating basemember, a first pair of Jacks on said base adapted to receive said firstpair of prongs and a second and third pair of jacks on said base, eachadapted 25 to receive said second pair or prongs, said prongs connectingto said first and second pair of lacks in a first position or saidprongs relative to said base, and connecting to said first and thirdpair of jacks in a second position of said prongs rela- 30 tive to saidbase.

6. In combination, a self-rectifying magnetic interrupter unit, a firstand a second pair 01' prongs mounted thereon. a co-operating basemember, a first pair of jacks on said base adapted 35 to receive said,first pair of prongs and a second and third pair of jacks on said base,each adapted to receive said second pair of prongs, said prongsconnecting to said first and second pair of Jacks in a first position ofsaid prongs relative to said base, and connecting to said first andthird pair oi Jacks in a second position of said prongs relative to saidbase, said first pair of prongs connecting to said first pair of jacksin reversed relation in said second position.

7. In combination, a self-rectifying magnetic interrupter unit, a firstand a second pair of prongs mounted thereon, a co-operating base member.a first pair of jacks on said base adapted to receive said first pair ofprongs and a second and third pair of Jacks on said base each adapted toreceive said second pair of prongs, said prongs connecting to said firstand second pair of jacks in a first position oi. said unit on said base,and connecting to said first and third pair of lacks in a secondposition or said unit on said base.

8. In combination, a seit-rectiiying magnetic interrupter unitcomprising'a vibratory reed having contacts thereon, a first and asecond pair of oppositely disposed contacts having one contact 60 ofeach pair adapted to co-operate with said reed contacts on each side ofsaid reed, a first and a second pair of prongs mounted on said unit andconnected to said respective pairs or contacts. a

co-operating base member, a'transi'ormer, a first pair of jacks on saidbase adapted to receive said first pair 01' prongs and connected to thetwo ends of one winding of said transformer, a second and a third pairoi? Jacks on said base each adapted to receive said second pair ofprongs and having corresponding jacks oi each pair connected to the endsof the other winding 01 said transformer, said prongs connecting to saidfirst and second pair of jacks in a first position of said prongsrelative tosaidbase.andconnectingtosaidflrstand'l6 third pair of Jacksin a second position of said prongs relative to said base, said firstpair of prongs connecting to said first pair of Jacks in reversedrelation in said second position whereby the connection of one of saidpairs or contacts to one of said windings is reversed without the otherconnection being reversed.

1 9. In combination, a self-rectifying magnetic interrupter unitcomprising a vibratory reed having contacts thereon, a first and asecond pair of 1 oppositely disposed contacts having one contact of eachpair adapted to co-operate with said reed contacts on each side of saidreed, a first and a second pair of prongs mounted on said unit andconnected to said respective pairs of contacts, a co-operating basemember, a transformer, a first pair of jacks on said base adapted toreceive said first pair of prongs and connected to the two ends of theprimary winding of said transformer, a second and a third pair of jackson said base each adapted to receive said second pair of prongs andhaving corresponding jacks of each pair connected to the ends of thesecondary winding of said transformer, said prongs connecting to saidfirst and second pair of jacks in a first position of said prongsrelative to said base, and connecting to said first and third pair ofjacks in a second position of said prongs relative to said base, saidfirst pair of prongs connecting to said first pair 1 of jacks inreversed relation in said second position whereby the connection of oneof said pairs of contacts to'said primary winding is reversed withoutthe secondary connection being reversed.

10. In combination, a self-rectifying magnetic interrupter unitcomprising-a vibratory reed having contact-s thereon, a first and asecond pair of oppositely disposed contacts having one contact of eachpair adapted to co-operate with said reed contacts on each side of saidreed, a first and a second pair of prongs mountedon said unit andconnected to said respective pairs of contacts, a co-operating basemember, a transformer, a. first pair of jacks on said base adapted toreceive said first pair of prongs and connected to the two ends of thesecondary winding of said transformer, a second and a third pair ofjacks on said base each adapted to receive said second pair of prongsand having corresponding jacks of each pair connected to the ends of theprimary winding of said transformer, said prongs connecting to saidfirst and second pair of jacks in a first position of said prongsrelative to said base, and connecting to said first and third pair ofjacks in a second position of said prongs relative to said base, saidfirst pair of prongs connecting to said first pair of jacks in reversedrelation in said second position whereby the connection of one of saidpairs of contacts to said secondary winding is reversed without theprimary connection being reversed.

11. In combination, a self-rectifying magnetic interrupter unitcomprising a vibratory reed having contacts thereon, a first and secondpair of oppositely disposed contacts having one contact of each pairadapted to co-operate with said reed contacts on each side of said reed,a first pair of prongs mounted on said unit and connected to said firstpair of contacts, a second and third pair of prongs mounted on said unitand having corresponding prongs of each pair connected to each of saidsecond pair of contacts, a co-operating 9,040,810 7 base member," atransformer, a first pair of Jacks on said base adapted to receive saidfirst pair of prongs and connected to the two ends of one winding ofsaid transformer, a second pair of Jacks on said base adapted to receiveeither said second or said third pair of prongs and connected to theends oi the other winding oi said trans former, said first and secondpair of prongs connecting to said jacks in a first position of saidprongs relative to said base, and said first and third pair of prongsconnecting to said jacks in a second position oi said prongs relative tosaid base, said first pair of prongs connecting to said first pair ofjacks in reversed relation in said second position whereby theconnection of one of said pairs of contacts to one of said windings isreversed without the other connection being reversed.

12. In combination, an interrupter unit, a plurality of prongs mountedthereon, a socket base, a plurality of jacks on said base adapted toreceive said prongs in a first relative position I said unit and base,and also adapted to receive said prongs when said unit is rotated 180degrees with respect to said base.

13. In combination, a magnetic interrupter unit, a plurality of prongsmounted thereon, a socket base, a plurality of jacks on said baseadapted to receive said prongs in a first relative position of said unitand base, and also adapted to receive said prongs when said unit isrotated 180 degrees with respect to said base.

14. A self-rectifying magnetic interrupter unit comprising a vibratoryreed having contacts thereon, a first and a second pair of oppositelydisposed contacts having one contact of each pair adapted to co-operatewith said reed contacts on each side of said reed,'a first pair ofprongs mounted on said unit and connected to said first pair ofcontacts, and a second and third pair of prongs mounted on said uniteach of said pairs being connected to said second pair of contacts.

15. In combination, a socket member for a magnetic interrupter unit, atransformer, a first pair of jacks in said socket connected to the endsof one winding of said transformer, and a second and third pair of jacksin said socket oi said pairs being connected to the ends of the otherwinding of said transformer.

16. In combination, a self-rectifying magnetic interrupter unit, a firstand a second pair of prongs mounted thereon, an additional prong ofgreater length than said other prongs also mounted on said unit, aco-operating base, a first pair of jacks on said base adapted to receivesaid first pair of prongs, a second and a third pair of jacks on saidbase each adapted to receive said second pair of prongs, and anadditional jack on said base to receive said additional prong to aid inpositioning said other prongs in their respective jacks, said prongpairs connecting to said first and second pair of Jacks in a firstposition of said prongs relative to said base, and connecting to saidfirst and third pair of jacks in a second position of said prongsrelative to said base, said additional prong connecting to saidadditional jack in both the positions.

MARVIN E. NULSEN. IRA M. SLATER.

